Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

Hi everyone,

Has anyone had vaginal bleeding or a period while on Arimidex?  I've been on Arimidex since March, 2010 when it was determined by blood test that I was "post-menopausal".  I haven't had a period in just about 3 years. Until today...well, it's enough bleeding that I need a tampon/pad and it feels like a period in that I have a bit of cramping(unless that part's in my head).  I called my gyno, but haven't heard back from her yet. I'm a three-year survivor, so I'm  worrying of course that it's a sign of ovarian or uterine cancer or something. and also worrying that maybe I should still be on Tamoxifen if I still have this much estrogen.  Thanks so much!

Get it checked out; it porbably is some creepy ordinary 'female problem', but it isn't what is suppose to be happening. Let us know!

Angeljoy,

there are so many things it could be - need a good gynocoogist - hoping it turns out to be something we'd call not important!  Sounds like too much bleeding to be a SE of Arimidex - I had some, and it was caused by what my doc called "vaginal atrophy" about 6 months after I started.  I wonder if you had (have) an undiagnosed polyp, or fibroid that has worked its way out?  I know it's so hard not to worry - but hoping you'll get a good explanation soon.   Let us know....

mersmom -

Bummer about the World Juniors, right?  I suppose Canada deserves a win after last year's butt-whoopin'.

I posted a funny hockey-related video over on the "I Say Yes..." thread, if you're interested.

Hope everyone has a great day, and remember the epsom salts baths for aches & pains.  It works wonders! 

E, Volunteer Epsom Salts Salesperson

angeljoy:  I wrote a post earlier about being on Aromasin (another AI like arimidex), as you said, after being definitely dx'd with menopause after labs showed that for a  couple years...so after tamoxifen (3 1/2 years), went on Aromasin in Sept. 2010...no periods since Oct. 2006...BAM, Xmas Day?  Period...5 days, definitely a period (like you, kinda crampy as well).  Oncologist referred me to a gyn. specialist (I see her the 12th), and told me to STOP THE AROMASIN til I see the onco (week after the 12th).  I also feel I should still have been taking Tamoxifen.  Will see, no period right now, but again like you, think about the bloating/weight gain/cancer links.  (tho I'm not one to 'go there', I just like to rule things out, and just go from there).  There has to be some connection to the Aromasin and period starting...maybe the 20mg dose is NOT enough with the weight gain?  Something I will definitely bring up.  good luck...getting in to the gyn is a good idea...and see if your oncologist wants to know also (as mine took me OFF the aromasin, another worry in and of itself to me...tho like I said, I don't really 'worry', never did, just do what ya gotta do is my motto).   Let us know what's up...juli

enjoyful

did you hears abouth the Russian Junior team getting booted off of their plane for unruly behavior...no joke...they made them leave the plane and claim their luggage. They also are under investigation for leaving the ice and coming back with a bottle of Crown Royal before the official pictures were taken. Sounds like they could be in some big trouble...as in there is a possibility they will not be allowed to participate next year.

Keeps my mind off of my muscle and tendon pain today...must be because it is damp and cold today.  Wish Spring would hurry and arrive.

Congratulations!!

Ruth, Thank you,we are very excited.

Sunshine this morning...so beautiful. Snow expected Wednesday and Thursday. I am not looking forward to that.Around here that usually means the snow will start melting and the freeze again over night. If theschool buses can"t navigate the streets school will either be delayed or called for the day. Poor kids have had three days called alread,meaning they will at this rate be in school till the middle of June.

Time to go walking to warm up these old joints and muscles...hockey game tonight. Game on!

Hope everyone is well and having a nice weekend.

Hi to all of the AI ladies.  I have a question, and please forgive if it is topic that has been covered as I have not read every page if this thread.  Does anyone have an opinion on or notice that their desire to be "nurturing" is missing or diminished  while taking Arimidex or any AI?  I seem to have no desire to nurture anything or anybody and wonder if it's due to lack of estrogen or if I'm just weird 

wenweb....I stopped taking AI's about 10 months ago, but I have a pretty flat affects.....intellectually I know how to feel, but its hard to experience a full range of emotions...I get angry and anxious, but I do not feel true gladness or sadness at all...it really bothers me....I never thought to attribute it to the AI's, even though I know that depression, anxiety and cognitive issues were among the side effects that I had with Aromasin.....don't remember so much with Arimidex.....but then I stopped the Arimidex in 2007....then tried the others and took Aromasin from 2007 - 2009

I find myself MORE nuturing; I almost break out in tears at a choir concert, basketball game etc. & I don't even have any of my own kids involved; just students or former students) or kids I don't even know) and I am very sentimental at any family event. You might just be experiencing the after-effects of 'active' treatment. You have been through hell & need a time to withdraw and nuture yourself!

edited to add; grandmothers have never had much estrogen, and they are, as a group, known to be very nuturing!!

Hi ladies, I've been meaning to give you a report from my gyno appointment in December but wanted to wait until I had a chance to get a copy of his 'real' report (as opposed to the 'we are pleased to report the results of your tests are normal' report, which is nice to get but not particularly helpful to anyone else).

Brief background. In November when I went in for my annual physical, my GP could not get a good pap. I have scarring (vaginal stenosis) due to a nasty forceps delivery a long time ago (foolishly kept under control first by BC pills and then HRT), and the scar tissue has gotten thicker due to 'real' menopause plus arimidex. So GP said I would need a surgical procedure to get the pap & perhaps do something about the scarring because:

1. as long as you have a cervix you need pap smears and

2. even if you are not interested in (or have the opportunity for) sexual relations, this is still not a part of the body you want to have closed off as that can lead to things such as bacterial infections and

3. if you do have vaginal atropy the (in)frequency of 'middle age' sex might not be enough to keep the vaginal walls open and in good working condition 

(If you do not have problems with atrophy issues, or your SO is an 18 year old or has a Viagra prescription quit reading here as the rest of this will be TMI!)

So off I went to the gyno. First he, I and an intern (whom I agreed could be in on the 'fun' as I am not too modest anymore, plus I think interns should know that there are patients who do want to be part of their own heath care team!) visited (with my clothes on, at my request). Then the exam. When doing the exam the gyno exclaimed, "Oh, this isn't SO bad, I think I can get a pap without the surgery." At that point he got out what looked liked a knitting needle with a bristle brush on the end and went up and twisted  it around as the intern pushed down on my abdomen (uterus). According to his report he used a 'cytologic brush' and used 'the liquid Pap thin prep method'. (and he did get a good sample which happily did turn out normal). After I got dressed we visited again. Now, while I am always happy not to have any kind of surgery, I was still concerned about the scarring, so I asked him about that. "Well," he said, "normally I would prescribe estrogen because that would take care of the problem." DUH......and that's probably what got me here in the first place!!! Then he kind of sat there, so I forged ahead, "What about dilators?" "Oh," he said, "Well, they probably would take care of things, although I've never PRESCRIBED them." (the intern is now googling 'dilators'). Quickly I say, "I don't need one prescribed and I know where to find them. I just don't want to get one unless it is something that might work." And I showed him the dilator set on the www.vaginismus.com homepage that I had printed off and then we actually had a good discussion about dilator therapy.

1. spend 10-15 minutes a day, four to five days a week...you need consistency and repetition for it to work

2. start small and work up, take your time

3. when you are where you want to be, even if you are having sex several days a week you still may want/need to continue the therapy at least once a week. If you aren't having intercourse you should continue the therapy as an ongoing part of your regular health care.

I did order the dilators from the vaginismus site (although I ordered them through Amazon as I already have an account there and you can get them through Amazon). I have only been using them for a week so can't say if they'll work or not; but I can say that they are not as gross, kinky or fun (depending on your perspective) as one might think. If you order from Amazon be careful about opening your e-mail at work as a big "YOUR VAGINAL DILATORS HAVE BEEN SHIPPED" popped up my computer!!!!!

Hope this is helpful. Ruth

Very interesting Ruth.  My vagina is the only part I have left!  I do love that you can get ANYTHING on amazon but beward those notifications

The nurse from my gyno office called me re: my period while "post-menopausal" and on arimidex.  She said she needed to talk to doc and call me back.  Never got that call back.  But out of the blue my chemo brain suddenly remembered when my oncologist switched me to arimidex he told me my periods might come back.Weird it would take 10 months for this to happen, though? Don't remember what he said we should do if they came back(change meds?) but I see him next week so will ask then. I'll let you know.

 ruthbru, LOL at your interesting browsing history!

Oh, to explain a bit more, my onco's office was the one that told me to STOP THE AROMASIN when I had my period...they said "since it's not helping anyway"....sooooo...that's the scoop on that...I HATE being off the meds...(yes, I also hated the hot flashes, and have NONE right now either, but I know they're necessary for past 4 years daily).   This gets so complicated!   ~juli